2016 Special Apportionment & Good Experience Credits Announced
INDIANAPOLIS (February 17, 2017) - The Board of Directors of Pension Fund of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Inc. approved a 0.5% Special Apportionment for all U.S. and Puerto Rico Pension Plan participants (active, inactive and retired), effective July 1, 2017. The Board also approved Good Experience Credits, of 0.5% for the Tax-Deferred Retirement Account (TDRA) and Legacy IRAs and 3.25% for the Benefit Accumulation Account (BAA), effective March 31, 2017.
Special Apportionments, unique to Pension Fund and the Pension Plan, are additional pension credits awarded to members when reserves exist above what is required by board policy. Special Apportionments are awarded as a percentage of the accumulated pension credits in a Pension Plan member's account. The Board reviewed credits and pension data as of Dec. 31, 2016, and approved this year's Special Apportionment.
Pension Plan began 2016 funded at 113.73%. Each year, investment returns must yield a 5% return net of investment fees. Additionally, in 2016, Pension Fund adopted new mortality tables as recommended by our Actuary, accounting for updated life expectancy tables as prepared by the Society of Actuaries. The 2015 Actuary's report called for an additional 3% or $59MM to be moved in 2016 from the reserve fund to the fund that is kept to cover all liabilities, accounting for the longevity of our members.
Good Experience Credits provide extra interest earnings for Pension Fund's TDRA, BAA and IRA accounts. This year's Good Experience Credits were awarded based on a review of the average principal balance for these accounts. Good Experience Credits follow the same funding formula as Special Apportionments. In 2016, TDRA's began the year funded at 108.59% and the BAA was funded at 112.39%. Each fund must earn the interest payout, as well as establish funding levels in excess of 115%.
As newer accounts, Annuities and IRAs (Roth and Traditional) did not have reserves in excess of 15% and therefore were not considered eligible for Good Experience Credits.
Pension Fund staff will be hosting two conference calls on Feb. 23, 2017, at 11:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. EST. To join, please use the following call-in information:
11:00 a.m. EST Dial: 866. 216. 6835 Access Code: 996877
7:00 p.m. EST Dial: 866. 216. 6835 Access Code: 349412
The Board of Directors of Pension Fund of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Inc. approved a 0.5% Special Apportionment for all U.S. and Puerto Rico Pension Plan participants (active, inactive and retired), effective July 1, 2017. The Board also approved Good Experience Credits, of 0.5% for the Tax-Deferred Retirement Account (TDRA) and Legacy IRAs and 3.25% for the Benefit Accumulation Account (BAA), effective March 31, 2017.
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